An acting principal has taken the helm at Sanford H. Calhoun High School in Merrick after the school's leader took a leave of absence following a drunken driving arrest this summer.

Michael Hughes will take over for Principal Nicole Hollings, who has been accused of driving while intoxicated on July 1 and crashing into a tree, according to officials and police reports.

Hollings has been charged with one count of driving while intoxicated, first offense; operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content over the legal limit of 0.08; and aggravated driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content higher than 0.18, public records show. She pleaded not guilty to those charges.

Her attorney, Robert Schalk, said in a brief phone call Wednesday that Hollings was fighting the charges

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